When the Call Came
Last month, out of the blue, Tom Ford Beauty reached out to us about creating a custom pressed orchid inspired by their signature scent, Black Orchid. A perfume known for its sensual depth and dramatic allure.
This call had no warm-up, no runway, just an “are you available and can you make it happen?” kind of moment. The timeline was insanely tight. The kind of schedule that made me question the commitment we had made.
Learning on the Fly
We weren’t just preserving flowers; we were mastering an entirely new printing and production process under intense pressure. The campaign centered around orchids, one of nature’s most striking and temperamental blooms. Our muse? Tom Ford’s iconic Black Orchid, the essence of luxury itself.
Real black orchids are incredibly rare and expensive, so we turned to a dark pink variety, knowing from experience that it would fade into a deep violet tone, mirroring the fragrance’s mysterious aesthetic. It was a calculated artistic choice, a nod to both color theory and creative intuition.
Then came the curveball: just two days before the deadline, we realized the orchids weren’t fully dry. Panic set in. The humidity had slowed the pressing process, and time wasn’t on our side. We had to pivot fast, using alternative drying methods to preserve the blooms without compromising color or structure. It was equal parts art and triage; the kind of quick problem-solving small business owners know all too well.
Between Ben’s engineering precision and my obsession with color integrity, we preserved, mounted, and photographed the final artwork in record time. We didn’t sleep for two days, but the final product was even beyond our expectation. Every detail — from brand logo spacing to capturing the scent’s visual mood, every aspect of this project was meticulously considered. Translating the soul of Tom Ford Black Orchid into floral form meant balancing darkness and softness, luxury and restraint.
The result wasn’t just a print, it was a portrait of the fragrance itself, using a pressed orchid to represent the launch.
The Power of Partnership
Ben handled the technical side, measurements, material prep, and timing. I focused on art direction, brand color matching, and visual storytelling. Together, we transformed our Pacific Northwest studio into a mini creative agency. It was Vancuterie meets Madison Avenue, proof that even a small floral preservation studio can deliver for a global luxury brand.
What It Means as a Small Business
For a woman-owned small business to collaborate with Tom Ford Beauty, it’s both surreal and deeply affirming. It means that our craftsmanship, care, and artistry can compete with large-scale production. It means luxury brands are recognizing the value of handmade, sustainable art, the kind created by human hands, not factories.
It was validation that artistry and precision can coexist, and that beauty crafted from real flowers can hold its own in the world of designer branding.
What We Took Away
Adaptability is everything. Tight deadlines teach you what you’re capable of.
Excellence travels. A strong creative reputation transcends geography.
Art is problem-solving. Every petal, pigment, and press cycle are an act of innovation.
Final Thoughts
Working on the Tom Ford Black Orchid national campaign was more than a project, it was an experience that stretched every creative muscle we have. It reminded us that luxury isn’t about perfection; it’s about passion, persistence, and presence.
What began as a frantic race against time became one of our proudest achievements, proof that when art meets resilience, even the wildest deadline can bloom into something extraordinary.